College Awards More Than 35 Protect OHIO Scholarships

The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine has awarded scholarships through the Protect One Health in Ohio (Protect OHIO) initiative to over thirty-five students in recognition of their academic excellence and passion for rural veterinary medicine.

In Fall 2025, the college awarded $900,000 in Protect OHIO funds to students from rural Ohio communities, supporting future veterinarians preparing to enter fields facing critical workforce shortages statewide.

Protect OHIO is an initiative designed to educate, attract and retain more veterinarians while strengthening disease prevention and preparedness statewide. Thanks to support from Governor Mike DeWine and state legislators, this important initiative will allow the college, in collaboration with agricultural commodity groups and university partners, to deliver meaningful solutions to address the veterinarian shortage across the Buckeye State.

By reducing financial barriers, the Protect OHIO scholarship funds help students focus on their education while preparing for veterinary careers that are essential to the sustainability of Ohio’s rural and agricultural communities.

“The Protect OHIO scholarship represents an investment in exceptional students who are the future of veterinary medicine in Ohio,” said Rustin Moore, DVM, PhD, DACVS, Rita Jean Wolfe Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. “We are grateful for the collaborative support that enables us to prepare the next generation of veterinarians and create long-term solutions to protect animal, human and environmental health.”

Growing Ohio's veterinary workforce and proactively protecting its agricultural industry requires innovative, future-focused solutions. Protect OHIO combines state, college and stakeholder resources to ensure a vibrant future of Ohio's animals and people. To learn more about the initiative, click here.